Do children have nightmares? At what age?

Nightmares usually start when children are 3 to 4 years old, and children wake up from them feeling scared (and could remember the nightmare). Nightmares tend to occur during rapid eye movement stage of the sleep when the brain is very active and is sorting through experiences and new information. Reassure your child after a nightmare. Your presence will help your child feel safe and secure. Also, tell him/her that it was just a bad dream and was not real. Let him/her know that it is natural and okay to feel scared and that everyone has nightmares once in a while. Help your child go back to sleep after he/she has calmed down.